For the last few years, I’ve been on an unexpected journey—from writing about meaning and Islamic philosophy, to sourcing and roasting specialty coffee. Along the way, I’ve become more and more convinced that coffee isn’t just a product—it’s a mirror. A way to study how we live, what we value, and how we show up for one another.
Coffee connects history and ritual, agriculture and aesthetics, colonization and resistance. It’s both everyday and sacred. Which is why this newsletter exists.
Why this space?
There’s a lot of noise online. Everyone’s building something. Everyone’s marketing something (to be fair, I am too). But I find myself wanting to create a quiet corner—just for thinking.
Coffee as Culture is where I share what I’ve been studying, reading, noticing. I’ll write about how places make us feel, how service can become a philosophy, and how design sometimes hides more than it reveals. I’ll revisit old essays and unfinished thoughts. I’ll invite in others who are also trying to make something meaningful.
This isn’t a brand blog. It’s a field journal. If you’ve ever gotten lost in a well-designed café, or wondered why certain spaces make you feel whole—this might be for you.
What to expect
reflections on coffee’s cultural history
musings on design, place, and belonging
excerpts from my old thesis, reexamined in new light
fragments of thought from the margins of the industry
honest, unfinished ideas in a low-pressure space
Thanks for reading. You’re welcome anytime.
— Imran
So glad you came back to Substack! Looking forward to learning about your coffee journey